Time switch



TIME SWITCH Filed July l, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheei 2 TIME SWITCH Filed July l, 1932 5 Sheets-Shee 3v Patented Mar. 10, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIME SWITCH Application July 1, 1932, Serial No. 620,321

1 Claim.

This invention pertains to time switches, ydesigned for controlling electric circuits.

The invention has primarily for its object to simplify and otherwise improve structures of the foregoing character, whereby they are positive and accurate in operation, and in which the switch mechanism may be operated a plurality voi times during a single cycle of operation of the time mechanism.

Incidental to the foregoing, a more specific object resides in the provision of a plurality of adjustable trip fingers adapted to travel in different paths, together with means lfor progressively shifting a trip member, that controls actuation of the electrical switch, `or switches, into the paths of the various trip fingers.

Another object is to provide a time mechanism, which can be readily adapted to actuate a. plurality of electrical switches at one time.

2O A still further object resides in the provision of a Vnovel circuit-closing mechanism, which insures positive Contact and fast breaking to eliminate arcing.

Another object resides in the provision of adjustable resilient trip lingers which can be reversely rotated past the trip member.

With the `above and other objects in view, which will appear as the Vdescription proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangements of parts, substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claim, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far devisedv for the practical application of the principles thereof.

In Athe drawings:-

Figure 1 is an elevation of a time switch constructed in accordance with the present invention, the casing and clock face being removed to illustrate the structural mechanism.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 2-2 `of Figure l.

Figure 3 is an elevation of a time dial and trip fingers.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section taken on the line .4 4 of Figure 5.

Figure 5 is `a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section.

55 Figures 6 and 7 are fragmentary eleva-tions of the circuit-closing mechanism for actuating the electrical switch.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of one arrangement of the electric circuits, and

Figure 9 -is an elevation of a modified form of cam for actuating the trip and circuit-closing mechanism.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the numeral I designates a base plate, on which is suitably mounted an electric 10 motor A, a time mechanism B, and an electric switch C. The motor A, time mechanism B, and the `switch lC are more or less conventional and therefore form no specific part of the present invention other than in the combination as em- 15 bodied in the vappended claim.

Referring particularly to the time mechanism, which comprises the usual gear train carried by the plates 2, suitably supported on the lugs 3 projecting from the base plate, it will be noted that 20 a shaft 4, operatively connected with the motor A, is provided at its outer end with a worm 5 engaging the gear 6 carried by the drum l, which houses the usual spring motor (not shown.) Con nected with the gear 6 is a. pinion 8, which in turn 25 drives the gear 9 operatively connected with the spindle I0, which is vprovided with a toothed sprocket I I operatively connected with the sprocket I2, by means of a linked chain i3. The sprocket I2 is secured on the shaft I4 of the 30 rotary switch C, which shaft is also provided with suitable blades I5 adapted upon rotation to form connections between the contacts i5 to which the circuit lines are connected, as will be hereinafter described, it being understood that the switch C 35 is of conventional structure, and may be readily replaced by any other well-known type of rotary switch without departing from the invention.

From the foregoing explanation, considered in connection with Figure 4 of the drawings, it will 40 be readily seen that, as the gear 6 is rotated by means of the motor-,driven shaft 4 and the worm 5, rotation will be imparted to the spindle I0, which in turn will rotate the spindle I4 to either close or open the circuits through the switch C. At the same time, the drum 'I, which houses the usual spring motor, will wind the spring which operates the time mechanism, it being understood that a clutch connection is provided between the drum I and the motor spring to prevent over-winding of the latter. Thus the motor A serves two functions, namely to wind the clock mechanism and also actuate the switch C.

While a single switch C is indicated on the drawings, as best shown in Figure 4, it will be readily appreciated that any number of switches may be actuated by the single timing mechanism, it being merely necessary to connect the same with the switch C through an auxiliary sprocket I1 mounted on the shaft I4, and a link chain I3.

The gear train,'comprising the time mechanism, is suitably connected with the shaft I8 actuated by the gear 6. This serves to operate the usual minute hand I9 and the hour hand 2D. In addition to the foregoing, a time dial 2| is also connected with the time mechanism, and vso timed as to make one complete revolution every twenty-four hours. spindle 22, which carries the dial 2|, is a pair of rotatably adjustable trip lingers 23V and 24, which serve to actuate the trip member 25,7as will be hereinafter explained. 1

With special reference to Figure 2 of the drawings, it will be noted that the lingers 23 and 24, which are formed from resilient material, are provided with depending noses 26, the nose of finger 23 being projected beyond that of finger 24 to travel in a different arcuate path. Y

It willbe readilyl apparent that'in order to actuate the switch C, to either close or open the wiring circuits, the circuit to the motor A must be closed by means of the trip mechanism. Therefore, an auxiliary switch D is provided comprising a pair of pivotal arms 21 and 28, suitably carried by the base plate I and provided with the contact members 29, to which the circuit lines are connected, as will be hereinafter described. The arms 21 and 28 are preferably formed of fibre, or other insulating material, in order to prevent grounding of the circuit wires connected with the contacts 29. l

Pivotally mounted on the upper plate 2 of the timing-mechanism is a pair of levers 30 and 3|, respectively, the outer ends of which are bifurcated for reception of the pins 32 carried by the ends of the arms 21 and 28. A spring 33, connected with one of the supporting posts'34 which carry the plates 2, is also connected with the opposite end of the lever 3| to urge the same to open position, while the expansion spring 35, connected with the adjacent ends of the levers 30 and 3|, normally urge the bifurcated ends of the levers toward each other. Thus it will be seen that the levers 30 and 3| have independent relative action, as well as simultaneous action, which will be described more in detail hereinafter.

Normally the contacts 29, carried by the arm 21 and 28, are held apart against the action of the spring 35. This is accomplished by the trip member 25, the nose of which engages a lug 36 punched out of the arm 370. The trip 25, which is pivotally carried by the slide 31, is normally urged to latching positionfas indicated in Figure l, Vby means ofthe spring 38 carried by one of the supporting posts 34, and connected with the trip by the link 39.

Projecting outwardly from Ythe trip 25 ,is an inclined lug 40, which is adapted to be intermittently engaged by the noses 26 ofthe trip fingers 23 and 24, respectively, Vwhen said ngers are rotated in a clockwise direction with the dial 2|. Obviously, as the lug 40 is engaged by one of the fingers, the trip member 25 will be rotated on its pintle, causing the nose 25' to be shifted away from the lug 36 carried by the leverV 30,/whereupon the spring 35.will rotatethe lever 3|),V causing the arm 21 to be rocked toward the arm28 Frictionally mounted on the and engage contacts 29 to close the motor circuit connected therewith, which in turn rotates the gear 6 to actuate the switch C, as heretofore explained.

Simultaneously with the foregoing action, the spindle I0 is necessarily rotated, and secured thereon is a cam plate 42 timed to complete onehalf a revolution before breaking the mo-tor circuit andagain setting the trip 25.

As best ,illustrated in Figure 7, the cam 42 is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed noses Y 43 and 44, respectively, the nose 44 projecting beyond the nose 43, and inasmuch as the cam 42 engages a lip 45, carried by the slide 31, which in turn carries the trip` member 25, it will be quite apparent that whenv the lip 45 of the slide 31 is resting upon the nose 43, the trip is held in its lowermost position, and the lug 40 is disposed within the path of the nose 26 carried by the finger 23. When the cam 42 is rotated one-half a turn to bring the nose 44 under the lip 45, the slide 31 is shifted upwardly to dispose the lug 40 within the path of the nose carried by the linger 24.

In the present instance only two trip ngers are illustrated for the purpose of simplicity. I-Iow-v ever, as set forth in the preceding objects, should it be desired to open and close the switch -C a plurality of times during one cycle of rotation of the time dial 2|, additional fingers may be provided, in which instance the cam 42 is replaced by a cam provided with an additional number of noses for progressively shifting the slide 31 and the trip 25 to aline the lug 40 with said trip lingers. For instance, if it is desired to use four trip fingers for progressively opening and closing the switch C, a cam 42', such as disclosed in Figure 9, is provided, the same having four noses 46 of successively greater length, thus progressively shifting the trip member 25 to successively aline the lug 40 with the noses of the various trip fingers.

Considering the wiring diagram, as disclosed in Figure 8, the line circuit comprises the wires 41 and 48, respectively, the line 41 being connected with the terminal 49, while the linel 48 is connected with one of the contacts I6. The outline, or circuit, to be controlled includes theV wires 50 and 5|, the line 5D being connected to the contact I6, while the line 5| is connected with the terminal 52.

In the position of the'switch blade I5, asillustrated, the out circuit is open, and, in orderA to close the sameit is first necessary to close the motor circuitv including the linesV 53 and'54, the line 53 being connected with one of the contacts I6, while line 54 is connected with the terminal 49. The auxiliary switch D'is connected in the line 54, and upon closing the contacts 29vthe motor circuit is completed through the lines 41, 54, 53 and 48. The motor then actuates the switch C and rotates the switch blade l5 a quarter of a turn to connect the contacts I6, whereupon the out circuit-is completed through the lines 41, 55, 5|, 50 and 48.

In the event that it is desired to manually actuate the switch C by remote control, or independent means, prior to actuation by the trip fingers 23 or 24, the same may be accomplished by means of a manual switch 56, connected in the line 51, which shunts the auxiliary switch circuit, it being merely necessary to hold the switch 56 closed until such time as the cam 42 releases the slide 31 and the trip member 25. i

Considering in detail the operation of the invention, with the various elements in normal position, as illustrated in Figure 1, as the time dial is rotated by means of the time mechanism B, the adjustable nger 24, which is set to function at the time indicated on the dial 2 I, will engage the lug 40 carried by the trip member 25, shifting the nose of the trip member away from the lug 36 to release the lever 3U, which shifts the arm 21 toward the arm D to engage the contacts 9 of the auxiliary switch, thus closing the motor circuit. The gear 6 is then rotated to wind the spring motor, and also actuate the spindle I0, which through the chain and sprocket connection rotates the shaft I4 of the switch C, and consequently the switch blade I5, to effect a connection between the contacts I6, thus connecting the line circuit with the out circuit in the manner heretofore described.

As the spindle I0 is rotated, the nose 44 of the cam 42 leaves the lip 45, carried by the slide 3l, and both levers 30 and 3| follow the cam, inasmuch as the lug 36 has been released by the nose of the trip member, and the pin 58 carried by the lever 3| rides on the arcuate face of the cam. As the cam 42 continues to rotate one half a turn, the levers 30 and 3 I, with the contacts of the auxiliary switch still closed, are both rotated upwardly due to the fact that the pin 58 rides on the periphery of the cam. When the lug 36 clears the nose 25 of the trip member 25, the trip can then rotate under the lug 36, and as the pin 58 drops off of one of the noses or high spots of the cam 42, the lever 3l rotates away from the lever 30, which continues to be held in raised position, due to the fact that the slide and trip member are held by the cam 42, the lip 45 resting on the high point of the cam, as best shown in Figure 6. Obviously, the switch D is then opened to break the motor circuit.

From the foregoing explanation taken in connection With the accompanying drawings, it Will be readily seen that an exceedingly simple, eiiicient and positive time mechanism has been provided for actuating a switch controlling one or more electrical circuits, and that by the provision of means for shifting the trip member 25, which controls the motor circuit switch, it is possible to provide any number of trip fingers, which will permit the switch C to be operated an unlimited number of times, during one cycle of operation of the time mechanism.

It will further be appreciated that the present invention can be readily adapted to actuate any number of switches, particularly where it is desired to avoid overloading of a single circuit, it being merely necessary to connect the various switches in line through suitable chain and sprocket connections.

In addition toi the foregoing, the advantages resulting from the simplicity and operation of the auxiliary switch B, which controls the motor circuit, will be readily apparent, in that the pivotal levers 30 and 3l, which both function independently, and in cooperation with one another, provide for a positive closing of the circuit during a predetermined period, and a fast break of the contacts to avoid arcing.

While the present invention has been illustrated and described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that the salient features reside in the mechanism for actuating the motor circuit switch, and the means for effecting operation of said mechanism at predetermined periods. It is contemplated that the specific details of construction may be modified in various ways, it being merely essential that the trip fingers travel in diiferent paths, and means be provided to progressively shift the trip member into the path of travel of the various trip fingers, in order to effect the operation of the switch D.

Lastly, another advantage resulting from the present invention resides in the fact that the trip fingers can be rotated in an anti-clockwise direction past the lug 40, should it be desired to reset any one of said ngers after the same has actuated the trip. This is possible inasmuch as the lug 40 is inclined in one direction, allowing the trip ngers, because of their resiliency, to be forced over the lug in an anti-clockwise .direction.

I claim:-

In a time switch including a motor, a time mechanism, a circuit controlling switch, and means operatively connecting the motor with said switch; an auxiliary switch for controlling the motor circuit, a plurality of adjustable trip fingers operatively connected with said time mechanism for rotation in different arcuate paths, shiftable means for actuating said auxiliary switch, and motor operated means for shifting said shiftable means to be successively affected by said trip fingers.

FREDERICK W. FLEGEL. 

